OBJECT - Mechanisms of FaithIn English:http://www.brutalresonance.com/viewreview.php?id=1394“We're lucky that Nader Moumneh's passion and fanaticism towards Dark Electro and Old-School Electro is without condition - otherwise we'd already be hitting a big hurdle. As the second official release by EAR (EAR 002), we have to contend with both overcoming the mighty label debut that was the Old School Electrology Boxset, and surpassing Andreas Malik's previous masterpiece, 'The Ethane Asylum'. In typical extravagant fashion, this double CD kicks us off with 'Mescaline Crisis', and borrows the priceless vocals of Martin Sane (fix8:Sed8). The track is a smoothly produced amalgamation of 90's style Electro-Industrial, with modern elements of IDM and Dark Electro. It's a rare moment where I can't really draw a fair comparison, but Object have always been that way - an act doing completely its own thing, and doing it with gusto. Malik has always hinted at, and drawn influence from effects of the human psyche, and the mysteries of the mind, and it's a theme not lost on this release either, as 'Neural Explosions' will testify to. Interestingly, it's probably one of my highlights of the album, with its steady unwavering synth work, and its breezy, raucous nature. It's gentle Dark Electro, but agitating on the right side of un-nerving, and for all of those out there who like a lesson in musical pedigree, Andreas Malik is one of those teachers who will always accrue a following. Audiences who prefer a more epic, involved track from the immediate start will call out the title track as their favourite, and it's actually difficult to think of any reason why a listener wouldn't single out this particular piece. As Object evolve, adapt, and progress, each release seems to mete out more soundscapes and ideas than previous offerings. The contrast between the dreamlike, playful fey-like seduction of the music, and the rawer, more abrasive vocals make for a merciless assault on the Ear - you can relax and truly unwind to this release, yet the vocals make it so much more tangible and disconcerting - it's almost like the album is encoded to sequentially reflect the effects on the listener to synchronize with the track order - just as I enter this state of meditative purgatory, 'Dream Collector' kicks in, and I almost, almost dare entertain the possibility that this is one of the smartest, most detailed and cleverly worked out albums in memory - if this isn't deliberate, it's horrifically coincidential. Omitting a few tracks (for no reason other than ease of reading), track nine ('Soul Seeking') features the talents of Sascha Lemon (LPF12), who to most of you, will be revered and respected as one of the older acts out there, with nearly 20 years in Electronic music, and a plethora of IDM albums. As disc 1 flows, each track manages to survey and draft together a completely different approach, and the final track (Empires in Peril) brings the album to it's most virile, right at the end - the introduction sample is how samples should be - short and memorable, and the beat of the track is insane. If we dare attempt to have seconds, Disc 2 "Old School Conspiracy" is where trademark E.A.R. really comes to life. Featuring a pantheon of remixers (Literally, there are 12 all-time greats here, although I doubt this nod to faith is deliberate, if the act of having 12 remixes to reflect the pantheon is purposeful, then we have indeed something truly, breathtakingly amazing), two unreleased tracks, and some re-recordings of older tracks, this disc is dangerously potent, as it's quite revealing to see what other artists from the same niche can do with such evolved music. Out of all of the remixes, the ones I personally have to mention are the ones by Brain Leisure, Red+Test (Chris Lewis also did the artwork for this release), Jihad, and of course, One Eye Wanders. I'd have bought the second CD for those four alone, but truth be told there isn't a weak track! In order to truly give you all a reason to buy this, I'll not discuss the two extra bonus tracks at the end. You know they're going to be great - I've been looking for chinks in the armour of this release (and label) for sometime, and I haven't yet found anything major. If the Blue, oceanic colour scheme doesn't add to the mood, and provide the full picture that MoF is portraying, then a pair of headphones will - an experience that you must undertake. Written by Nick.https://www.reflectionsofdarkness.com/artists-k-o-cdreviews-133/10973-cd-review-object-mechanisms-of-faith.html“Already early after the release of the last OBJECT album 'The Ethane Asylum', bits of information about a follow-up entitled 'Mechanisms Of Faith' started surfacing and then there was silence. Andreas Malik didn't rush things with the new record and so it wasn't before 2012 before the record would be released as a double disc release.Taking off with 'Mescaline Crisis' the album offers a collaboration effort with Martin Sane of FIX8:SED8. The manipulated screams are embedded into a garment of seamless melodic veils and crunchy drum patterns. Following 'Neural Explosions' marks Maliks' first vocal appearance on the album where rough beats explode like atomic detonations inside the mind. The vocals rise above the battlefield of buried crimes and grudges to become the tormenting voice of conscience. On the title track words become sounds and the voice disperses to a sequence of distorted frequencies to serve as an instrument amidst layers upon layers. 'Dream Collector' goes without any vocals whereas those aren't necessary to get the track anyways. Dramatic strings ascend to fall into the abyss being smashed to pieces by what once were beats. A ride through the landscape of an abandoned soul in full colour! Oddly enough, 'State Of Reality' almost entirely feels like a dream. It's got some of those spacey atmospheres permeating the whole track. Everything's like a lullaby, a lullaby of the end that draws nearer every day.A lullaby steeped with 'Blind Obedience' to leaders deserving a firm kick in the ass. Buried under layers of cold steel and noise the soldiers enter the scenery guns blazing. The following minutes reveal a chilling beauty in the form of thick textures. The second collaboration is on with PLF12 on 'Soul Seeking' that at first glimpse does have an atypical sound for an OBJECT track...until halfway through it. For the most part cold industrial vengeance with insidiously hissing vocals and a ray of light trying to escape! 'Morphine Desire' is nothing but a raging current inflicted with noise, representing a soul in agony, desperately screaming for help while a melody hovers above to ease the pain a little. 'For Eternity' is the closest thing to a club track you'll get to hear on the album. Doesn't mean that you can expect easy listening though. You're being guided out of the album by the instrumental 'Each Slow Turn' offering shifting rhythms and a constantly prevalent atmospheric backdrop to enjoy.The second disc, entitled 'Old-School Conspiracy', holds another album's worth of remixes and a few unreleased demos. Let's start with the 'Robotiko Rejekto Remix' of 'Blood Patch' which turns out as a straightforward, more club-friendly version of the track. Something you cannot say about the rendition BRAIN LEISURE delivered of 'Density Of Fear', but then again, Dominique Debert never was one to just copy and paste another rhythm on a given track. The whole thing appears to be a musical horror film with occasional forays into brighter regions. In case you found the original 'Mescaline Crisis' being too much o f a simple adventure, the 'Sleepwalk burnout mix' goes for a non-linear take on the track, cuts out pieces and puts them back in elsewhere. The two following perspectives on 'Morphine Desire' show sufficiently how different views of artists can be. AMGOD turns it into a 4/4 standard club tune, while ONE EYE WANDERS...well, let's just say were playing around a little and see what comes out.Last but not least I found a little gem close to the end with the PYRROLINE remix of one of the last albums tracks 'Existence On Trial' that shines with atmospheric grace and a minimalist rhythmic costume. I just can't stop listening. Both the following demos are void of any vocals and just stick to the build itself. 'Static Motion' definitely is the strongest of them and I wonder how the final version would sound. Something that should end up on a possible future album! So we've reached the very end. If you're still reading this I salute you! Now to the album: More than anything 'Mechanisms of Faith' needs time. Compared to this one 'The Ethane Asylum' was a catchy record by OBJECT standards. The layers start to unravel more slowly and melodies don't unfold as quickly either, once they do, it's pure bliss and you'll discover more bits and details by the minute. If you're into sophisticated old-school electronics you should have this album in your collection!” Written by Sebastian Huhnhttp://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/?id=7002“Fourth official album of this German one-man project now released by Electro Aggression Records, so this label continues the fruitful cooperation with COP International after the spectacular 'Old School Electrology' quadruple-box-set-'beast'. Both, label and artist, have already collaborated with the release of the last Object-album 'The Ethane Asylum', which has been out in 2008 under the wings of the Denver-based Vendetta-Records label. This new album release leads the listener once again into the mysterious world of a quality Dark Electronica music-experience. The teachers of Andreas Malik come easily and quick to mind while spinning this nice looking DCD album over and over again: Mentallo & The Fixer, 'Too Dark Park'-like Puppy and affiliates have had their impact on Andreas. This won't surprise his experienced listeners as they could never-ever imagine, that Andreas would fall into a conflict to change anything drastically. This very special, layered form of Dark Electro music has always been Andreas' kind to express him artistically, any change would rather confuse. So you'll get the expected doze of a monumental produced Dark Electro album, on which Andreas' tricky synthesizer-programming skills receive the full amount of attention. Where to start and where to end this review? That was a constant question with me, when it comes to name highlights out of this album. It is just too simple to name the opener 'Mescaline Crisis' as being the ultimate tune available here, as this one adds successfully vocals and lyrics of Martin Sane of Fix8:Sed8 - so yes, of course, this tune is awesome with its diverse rhythm programs. I personally have found preferences in the beautiful arranged title track as being one of the tunes in an ongoing row, on which Andreas could integrate the most successful his opulent, melodic synthesizer arrangements, treated with a constant produced kick-and-snare work and his mostly fx-manipulated vocals. By picking out further pearls of this generally epic sounding album, I tend to name 'Soul Seeking (feat. Sascha Lemon of LPF12)' and the 'Album Version' of his compilation-appearance for the German Electro Arc label ("Electro Arc Compilation Vol 2"), 'Empires in Peril', as being tracks worth to include on this highlight-list. To integrate a bit variation, Andreas has also decided to add some instrumental tunes, which can be discovered with nearly every fourth track. While 'Dream Collector' isn't to me a savior, I fall on my knees and praise the Lord for 'Distant Memories" and 'Density of Fear', as these both are masterpieces and give a lesson to any Electronic musician who is trying to produce thrilling, futuristic sounding instrumental tunes. More than 76 minutes of brilliant produced Electro/Industrial-music in this special Puppy-an style finally find an end after 15 tracks, but you still get the impression, that you have forgotten some valuable content hidden in between the tracks. Good to know and to hear, that this album offers enough treasures worth to discover also after the 20th + spinning. Which of the latter productions you can serious remember offers such a quality?But this positive madness doesn't stop after this first CD - the second one has to be praised too. Under the working title 'Old School Conspiracy' it initially looks, that you'll get your usual remix contribution bonus-CD. The main content holds remixes, right, but the featured names are promising something special. Someone out there who can remember Robotiko Rejekto, a German cult-EBM-duo releasing on Technodrome/Zyx Records in the late 80s? They are back again, reanimated and vital with a hard stomping remix on 'Blood Patch', a track which has been originally released on Andreas' second album 'The Reflecting Skin'. Also the duo of Controlled Fusion returns with a remix on the second part of 'Blood Patch'. As for further remixes, which are taken from the original new album, you'll get a breathtaking remix on the instrumental tune 'Density of Fear' by the French genius Brain Leisure. 'Mescaline Crisis', the cooperation with Martin Sane (Fix8:Sed8), gets some revamped versions by Sleepwalk (fantastic layered and tastefully arranged - who has given the Ruch-brothers a Vitamin C-pill after the departure of O. Spring?), Germany's Second Disease and the US-newcomer C. Lewis, a.k.a. Red + Test (when comes out an official album, gentlemen?). Additional works can be discovered by amGod, One Eye Wanders, Jihad ('Morphine Desire'), as well as Pyrolline and Abscess, who have buried out another goody out of the Object archives, 'Existence on Trial', originally released of the predecessor 'The Ethane Asylum'. And - reward, reward - you'll get two additional bonus demo tracks with 'Static Motion' and 'End of Line'. A quite fair, better said, good quality content and an ideal second CD to dive deep into the musical dimension of ObjectWhile I highly recommend you, to purchase this awesome looking DCD set with its tasteful icy landscape well packaged in a digi-pack, I generally need to bring to your attention, to consume this album with enough free time. The richly included details and fx-gimmicks hidden in Andreas' arrangements are part of this album production well worth to discover - to listen to this album in a rush will offer you only a glimpse, but not the complete content. So take your time and explore this epic and monumental Dark Electro release.” by Marc Taterhttp://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=47776_0_17_0_C“After the “Old School Electrology”-box the new label Electro Aggression Records has finally released its 1st artist. I expected a rather ‘old-school’ electro act and that’s precisely what Object stands for. This German project set up by Andreas Malik became a quite renowned name in the EBM underground during the 90s. After the millennium Object got a kind of consecration as Broken Seal and Vendetta Music got the band flying under their wings. The 4th full length has now been released after a hiatus of 4 years. The 1st disc starts off featuring Martin Sane (Fix8:Sed8) on vocals. Musically, the song totally reflects all the influences of Object. We can speak about a mix of Mentallo & The Fixer and early Skinny Puppy. But especially, Mentallo & The Fixer sounds like the main source of inspiration. There’s a similar complexity in sound although Object is probably a little bit more accessible. Even if the sound isn’t that new or original, there aren’t many bands sharing the dark electronics à la Mentallo & The Fixer. That’s precisely what makes the force behind this production. Andreas Malik excels in the writing of dark atmospheres and an obscure EBM approach. His vocals are rather spooky and enigmatic, which matches with the music. And the least I can say is that the sound is not the typical 4 x 4 EBM pattern we’re all familiar with. Sascha Lemon of LPF12 was also featured on the album (cf. “Soul Seeking”), which is also a kind of prelude to a great final chapter of the album. “Morphine Desire”, “Empires In Peril” and “Each Slow Turn” are excellent dark tracks. Even if this project is inspired by ‘old-school’ the music will be never be a stereotype. The only reproach I will make concerns the similarity between all songs. The 2nd disc mainly features remixes by some noticeable bands like Robotiko Rejekto, Second Disease, Abscess, Brain Leisure, Sleepwalk, Controlled Fusion ao. We here again get a selection of mainly ‘old-school’ bands, but most of them really add a bonus to this album. One of the greatest remixes is the one made by Robotiko Rejekto. This project from the early Zoth Ommog-school added some interesting sounds to “Blood Patch”. Controlled Fusion did a remix of the same song in an explicit EBM style. One of the main surprises concerns the sexy remix of “Density Of Fear” by Brain Leisure. The “Red+Test Remix” of “Mescaline Crisis” is another one to keep in mind. The remix of “Existence On Trial” by Abscess sounds a bit pop-like, which is rather surprising if you know the sound of Abscess. Last, but not least we also get 2 previously unreleased demo songs at the end of the album. It seems like the demos show an unknown facet of Object, which is more wafting and less powerful. Object never became a leading formation from the scene although I’m sure the project is known by every passionate EBM-lover. It’s pretty cool to have this project back on track! (DP:7/8)DP.http://truecultheavymetal.com/index.php/dominion/2012/03/07/review-object-mechanisms-of-faith“As sounds, styles and fashions change there will always be that percentage that stick firmly to the belief that the old ways are best. Unfortunately though it is rare in the case of bands that those trying to be "Old School" sound anything other than outdated and old hat to most ears. But every now and then there comes a band that gets the formula just right.Object is one such band. Their blend of old school beats, melodies and even vocals recalls genre favourites such as Skinny Puppy and Frontline Assembly. But it is deeper than merely a stylistic similarity. Andreas Malik has the same penchant for complex and engaging songwriting as his influences. Songs like 'Mescaline Crisis', 'Blind Obedience', 'Soul Seeking' and 'Empires In Peril' are prime examples of this and instantly sound like genre classics.Most refreshing though is the lack of generic dance beats especially as some of the songs could quite easily be transformed into another track for the European dance floors. What you get instead is an intelligent and thoughtful experience that requires to be listened to.The production is nice and modern with just the right amount of fuzz on the vocals and samples to give them an organic feel. However the mix does occasionally engulf the vocals to the point where they become a vague drone in the song. But as a whole the album is a fine effort and worthy of inclusion alongside the likes of Skinny Puppyand Frontline Assembly.” By Sean Palfreyhttp://www.hard-wired.org.uk/Archive/EBM/Object_-_Mechanisms_Of_Faith.htm“Joining forces with the Electro Aggression label means Andreas Malik has been fully able to indulge the old school industrial leanings that his music as Object has always possessed, doing away with the complex melodic style that has always been his trademark in favour of a more muscular, rhythmic style where the beefy rhythms propel the 15 tracks like a sonic juggernaut on this, his fourth release. This is something of a double-edged sword in that, while the somewhat uniform style of the album proper means that the variety that made his past works so compelling is sadly missing & with so many tracks on offer, the inspiration is sometimes spread a bit thin but, even so, it’s hard not to get swept up in the heavy rhythms that are a constant facet of the album & there is still enough room for Malik to work his magic, as he does early on by laying down some memorable riffs on the strong opener that is ‘Mescaline Crisis’ & setting the scene for Martin Sane of Fix8:Sed8’s vocals which the effects they’re subjected to ensure aren’t that different from Malik’s own & while neither are as expressive as they might have been they do at least avoid the usual ‘harsh whispered’ style that so many EBM bands adopt, which is another favourable aspect in the label’s ‘old school or nothing’ mantra while the Kraftwerk-like sequences that add a slightly quirkier flavour to ‘State Of Reality’ with its added Blade Runner samples & the oriental touches that crop up during ‘Dream Collector’ see Malik stretching himself musically by bringing a wider range of influences into his music while the bass chords that shift beneath the surface like a dark miasma help make ‘Blind Obedience’ one of the highlights of the album. It’s when he stretches himself in this manner that the album is at its best with the title track similarly benefitting from another memorable chorus while the ‘anything could happen’ feel that characterises ’Urban Claustrophobia’ makes for another strong offering that really demonstrates what he’s capable of. This is proven even further by the excellent instrumentals ‘Density Of Fear’, which features a sample of Humphrey Bogart & the closing ‘Each Slow Turn’ where some big sweeps of sound lead into a fine track, both of which show where his true strengths lie; creating complex, multi-layered melodic dark electro, as is proven further by the two unreleased demos that bring up the rear, so to speak, on the second disc which is entitled ‘Old School Conspiracy’ & which is a sort of over view of Object’s career so far, featuring the odd alternative version from Malik himself as well as a host of remixes (all old school, natch) of tracks from this & earlier releases from such artists as Sleepwalk & Second Disease, both of whom do a good job of reinterpreting ‘Mescaline Crisis’ while Respirance’s melodic vocals, which could easily be mistaken for Seabound’s Frank Spinath, seem to dictate that the two versions of another older track, ‘Existence On Trial’ from Abscess & Pyrroline would have to be the most commercial offerings in the whole set, both also benefitting from a nicely full melodic feel that compliments the vocals perfectly. Occasionally, this can get a little on the experimental side which might be a little challenging for some but that’s what the label is all about &, when taken but, overall, the variety on display is a definite plus while the more adventurous touches do at least mean you won’t get too comfortable & that’s surely a good thing, no?”